Dynamic permeability of the lacunar–canalicular system in human cortical bone

Abstract

A new method for the experimental determination of the permeability of a small sample of a fluid-saturated hierarchically structured porous material is described and applied to the determination of the lacunar–canalicular permeability (KLC) in bone. The interest in the permeability of the lacunar–canalicular pore system (LCS) is due to the fact that the LCS is considered to be the site of bone mechanotransduction due to the loading-driven fluid flow over cellular structures. The permeability of this space has been estimated to be anywhere from 10−17 to 10−25 m2. However, the vascular pore system and LCS are intertwined, rendering the permeability of the much smaller-dimensioned LCS challenging to measure. In this study, we report a combined experimental and analytical approach that allowed the accurate determination of the KLC to be on the order of 10−22 m2 for human osteonal bone. It was found that the KLC has a linear dependence on loading frequency, decreasing at a rate of 2 × 10−24 m2/Hz from 1 to 100 Hz, and using the proposed model, the porosity alone was able to explain 86 % of the KLC variability.

Lactation-Induced Changes in the Volume of Osteocyte Lacunar-Canalicular Space Alter Mechanical Properties in Cortical Bone Tissue

“…The overall lacunar-canalicular porosity in human, dog, rat, and mouse models has been reported in the range of 1% to 14% of total cortical bone volume, depending on the imaging techniques utilized. (45,(49)(50)(51)(52)(53) The current studies show lacunar and canalicular porosities of approximately 1% and 2.5%, respectively, consistent with previous reports. Interestingly, the large numbers of canaliculi make their aggregate porosity space some 2.5-fold higher than the lacunar porosity.…”

“…Interestingly, the large numbers of canaliculi make their aggregate porosity space some 2.5-fold higher than the lacunar porosity. This is much larger than generally appreciated, but recently Benalla and colleagues (52) also found higher canalicular porosity than lacunar porosity in human bone. The osteocyte level void volume (~3.5% of cortical bone volume for both lacunae and canaliculi combined) places the LCS porosity into the same range as the vascular porosity.…”

Predicting cortical bone adaptation to axial loading in the mouse tibia

“…The correct order of magnitude of bone permeability is still a matter of debate (Cardoso et al, 2013). Previous computational studies (Pereira and Shefelbine, 2014) showed that poroelastic models with bone permeability k = 10 −22 m 2 simulate relaxation times similar to in vivo measures in mice and consistent with recent experimental estimations (Benalla et al, 2014).…”

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“…Previous computational studies (Pereira and Shefelbine, 2014) showed that poroelastic models with bone permeability k = 10 −22 m 2 simulate relaxation times similar to in vivo measures in mice and consistent with recent experimental estimations (Benalla et al, 2014).…”